Citations for OMT/OMM in Pediatrics (Peer Reviewed Articles)
The following list of citations applies to the use of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) or
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) in neonates, infants, children and adolescents. The list is
restricted to articles which have been peer-reviewed (original research, review or case reports found in
peer-reviewed journals) and published in English. Authors are reflective of an international
community of osteopathic clinicians, including osteopathic medicine physicians trained in the United
States, osteopathic physicians trained in other countries, and osteopaths. Depending on where
osteopathic clinicians are trained or practice, variation in scope of practice, licensing, credentialing,
standards of practice, and training vary. At this time, the list does not include abstract or oral
presentations, textbooks, other types of manual medicine (such as chiropractic medicine), publications
in languages other than English, or non-peer reviewed publications.
This list is meant as a “work in progress.” Any citations meeting the above qualifications were not
intentionally excluded from this list. If you think a citation should be included, please submit requests
for adding additional citations to Erik Langenau, DO, Education Chair for the Section on Osteopathic
Pediatricians (SOOP) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) at Erikla@PCOM.edu for
consideration. The Section on Osteopathic Pediatricians (SOOP) does not endorse or denounce any of
the following research studies or citations. Recognizing that locating references may be challenging,
this list is simply meant as a list for clinicians and researchers to utilize when investigating the use of
OMM and OMT in neonates, infants, children and adolescents.
Accorsi A, Lucci C, Di Mattia L, Granchelli C, Barlafante G, Fini F, Pizzolorusso G, Cerritelli F, Pincherle M;
Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy in the Attentive Performance of Children With AttentionDeficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2014;114(5):374-381.
Andreoli E, Troiani A, Tucci V, Barlafante G, Cerritelli F, Pizzolorusso G, Renzetti C, Vanni D, Pantalone A,
Salini V. Osteopathic manipulative treatment of congenital talipes equinovarus: A case report. Journal of
Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2014; 18(1):4-10.
April KT, Feldman DE, Zunzunegui MV, Descarreaux M, Grilli L. Complementary and alternative health
care use in young children with physical disabilities waiting for rehabilitation services in Canada. Disabil
Rehabil. 2009;31(25):2111-7.
Arbuckle BE. The value of occupational and osteopathic manipulative therapy in the rehabilitation of
the cerebral palsy victim. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1955;55(4):227-37.
Belcastro MR, Backes CR, Chila AG. Bronchiolitis: a pilot study of osteopathic manipulative treatment,
bronchodilators, and other therapy. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1984;83(9):672–676.
Bolin DJ. The application of osteopathic treatments to pediatric sports injuries. Pediatr Clin North Am.
2010;57(3):775-94.
Brady NS. Efficacy of a standardized osteopathic manipulative therapy protocol on pulmonary function
and symptomatology in moderate persistent asthmatic children. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.
2010;105(5):A36–A37.
Bruderly, TE, Bojrab DI. Otitis externa. J Osteopath Coll Ophthalmol Otorhinolaryngol 1996;8( 1):101–
107.
Canavese F, Kaelin A. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Indications and efficacy of nonoperative
treatment. Indian J Orthop. 2011;45:7-14.
Cerritelli F, Pizzolorusso G, Ciardelli F, La Mola E, Cozzolino V, Renzetti C, D'Incecco C, Fusilli P, Sabatino
G, Barlafante G. Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on length of stay in a population of
preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pediatr. 2013 Apr 26;13:65.
Cerritelli F, Pizzolorusso G, Ciardelli F, et al. Neonatology and osteopathy (NEO) study: effect of OMT on
preterms’ length of stay. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:O36.
Cerritelli F, Pizzolorusso G, Renzetti C, D'Incecco C, Fusilli P, Perri PF, Tubaldi L, Barlafante G.
Effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment in neonatal intensive care units: protocol for a
multicentre randomised clinical trial. BMJ Open. 2013 Feb 20;3(2).
Davis MF, Worden K, Clawson D, Meaney FJ, Duncan B. Confirmatory factor analysis in osteopathic
medicine: fascial and spinal motion restrictions as correlates of muscle spasticity in children with
cerebral palsy. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2007;107(6):226-32.
Degenhardt BF, Kuchera ML. Osteopathic evaluation and manipulative treatment in reducing the
morbidity of otitis media: a pilot study. J Amer Osteopath Assoc. 2006;106:327-34.
Dobson D, Lucassen PL, Miller JJ, Vlieger AM, Prescott P, Lewith G. Manipulative therapies for infantile
colic. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Dec 12;12:CD004796.
Duncan B, McDonough-Means S, Worden K, Schnyer R, Andrews J, Meaney FJ. Effectiveness of
osteopathy in the cranial field and myofascial release versus acupuncture as complementary treatment
for children with spastic cerebral palsy: a pilot study. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2008;108(10):559–570.
Duncan B, Barton L, Edmonds D, Blashill BM. Parental perceptions of the therapeutic effect from
osteopathic manipulation or acupuncture in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Clin Pediatr (Phila).
2004;43(4):349-53.
Frymann VM, Carney RE, Springall P. Effect of osteopathic medical management on neurologic
development in children. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1992;92:729-744.
Frymann VM. Learning difficulties of children viewed in the light of the osteopathic concept. J Am
Osteopath Assoc. 1976;76:46-61.
Frymann VM. Relation of disturbances of craniosacral mechanisms to symptomatology of the newborn:
study of 1,250 infants. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1966;65:1059-1075.
Frymann VM. The osteopathic approach to the child with a seizure disorder. In King HH. (Ed)
Proceedings of international research conference: Osteopathy in Pediatrics at the Osteopathic Center
for Children in San Diego, CA 2002. American Academy of Osteopathy, Indianapolis, IN, 2005;89-96.
Guiney PA, Chou R, Vianna A, Lovenheim J. Effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment on pediatric
patients with asthma: a randomized controlled trial. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2005;105(1):7–12.
Goldstein M. Osteopathic manipulative treatment for pneumonia. Osteopathic Medicine and Primary
Care. 2010;4:3.
Haiden N, Pimpel B, Kreissl A, Jilma B, Berger A. Does Visceral Osteopathic Treatment Accelerate
Meconium Passage in Very Low Birth Weight Infants?- A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial. PLoS
ONE 2015;10(4): e0123530.
Hasler CSC, Schmid C, Enggist A, Neuhaus C, Erb T. No effect of osteopathic treatment on trunk
morphology and spine flexibility in young women with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. J Child Orthop.
2010;4(3):219–226.
Hayden C, Mullinger B. A preliminary assessment of the impact of cranial osteopathy for the relief of
infantile colic. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2006;12(2):83–90.
Hayes NM, Bezilla TA. Incidence of iatrogenesis associated with osteopathic manipulative treatment of
pediatric patients. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2006;106(10):605–608.
Huard Y. Influence of the venous sinus technique on cranial hemodynamics. In King HH. (Ed.)
Proceedings of international research conference: Osteopathy in Pediatrics at the Osteopathic Center
for Children in San Diego, CA 2002. Indianapolis, IN; American Academy of Osteopathy, 2005:32-36.
Humphreys BK. Possible adverse events in children treated by manual therapy: a review. Chiropr
Osteopat. 2010;18:12.
King HH, Tettambel MA, Lockwood MD, Johnson KH, Arsenault DA, Quist R. Osteopathic manipulative
treatment in prenatal care: A retrospective case control design study. J Am Osteopath Assoc
2003;103(12):577-82.
King HH. Further Demonstration of the Benefit of Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy in Pediatric Care. J
Am Osteopath Assoc. 2013;113(7):570-571.
King H. Use of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) for Pediatrics. [E-Letter], Pediatrics (August
8, 2013). Available at
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/132/1/140.abstract/reply#pediatrics_el_56064 .
Accessed August 13, 2013.
King H. Don't Throw the Baby Out With the Bath Water. J Am Osteopath Assoc October 2013 113:793794; doi:10.7556/jaoa.2013.051.
Langenau E, Cyrus, S, Ryan L. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) for Pediatrics. [E-Letter],
Pediatrics (July 26, 2013). Available at
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/132/1/140.abstract/reply#pediatrics_el_56064 .
Accessed July 27, 2013.
Lassovetskaia L. Applications of the osteopathic approach to school children with delayed psychic
development of cerebro-organic origin. In King HH. (Ed.) Proceedings of international research
conference: Osteopathy in Pediatrics at the Osteopathic Center for Children in San Diego, CA 2002.
Indianapolis, IN; American Academy of Osteopathy, 2005:52-59.
Lassovetskaya L. Osteopathic treatment of schoolchildren with delayed psychic development of
cerebral-organic origin. J Osteopath Med (Australia). 2003;6:38.
Lee R. Osteopathic Treatment Decreases NICU Length of Stay in Premies Commentary by: Robert C. Lee.
AAP Grand Rounds 2013; 30(2): 21.
Lund G, Carreiro JE. Characteristics of pediatric patients seen in medical school-based osteopathic
manipulative medicine clinics. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2010;110(7):376-80.
Lund GC, Edwards G, Medlin B, Keller D, Beck B, Carreiro JE. Osteopathic manipulative treatment for the
treatment of hospitalized premature infants with nipple feeding dysfunction. J Am Osteopath Assoc.
2011;111(1):44-8.
Martelli M, Cardinali L, Barlafante G, Pizzolorusso G, Renzetti C, Cerritelli F. Do placebo effects
associated with sham osteopathic procedure occur in newborns? Results of a randomized controlled
trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2014;22(2):197-202.
Mills MV. Consider osteopathic manipulation in next positional plagiocephaly research. J Pediatr. 2006
May;148(5):706-7.
Mills MV, Henley CE, Barnes LL, Carreiro JE, Degenhardt BF. The use of osteopathic manipulative
treatment as adjuvant therapy in children with recurrent acute otitis media. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.
2003;157(9):861–866.
Ndetan H, Evans MW Jr, Hawk C, Walker C. Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation for children in the
United States: an analysis of data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey. J Altern Complement
Med. 2012;18(4):347–353.
Nemett DR, Fivush BA, Mathews R, et al. A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of
osteopathy-based manual physical therapy in treating pediatric dysfunctional voiding. J Pediatr Urol.
2008;4(2): 100–106.
Philippi H, Falum A, Jung T, et al. Patterns of postural asymmetry in infants: a standardized video-based
analysis. Eur J Pediatr 2006;165: 158-164.
Philippi H, Faldum A, Schleupen A, et al. Infantile postural asymmetry and osteopathic treatment: a
randomized therapeutictrial. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2006;48(1):5–9, discussion 4.
Pintal WJ, Kurtz ME. An integrated osteopathic treatment approach in acute otitis media. J Am
Osteopath Assoc. 1989;89(9):1139-41
Pizzolorusso G, Cerritelli F, Accorsi A, et al. The Effect of Optimally Timed Osteopathic Manipulative
Treatment on Length of Hospital Stay in Moderate and Late Preterm Infants: Results from a RCT.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM. 2014;2014:243539.
Posadzki P, Lee MS, Ernst E Osteopathic manipulative treatment for pediatric conditions: a systematic
review. Pediatrics. 2013 Jul;132(1):140-52.
Prakash L, Michalik DE. Brief report of a clinical trial on the duration of middle ear effusion in young
children using a standardized osteopathic manipulative medicine protocol. J Am Osteopath Assoc.
2010;110(12):738-9; author reply 739-40
Purse FM. Manipulative therapy of upper respiratory infections in children. J Am Osteopath Assoc.
1966;65(9):964-72.
Rowane WA, Rowane MP. An osteopathic approach to asthma. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1999;99(5):25964.
Schmidt IC. Osteopathic manipulative therapy as a primary factor in the management of upper, middle,
and pararespiratory infections. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1982;81(6):382-8.
Shrum KM, Grogg SE, Barton P, Shaw HH, Dyer RR. Sinusitis in children: the importance of diagnosis and
treatment. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2001;101(5 Suppl):S8-13.
Steele KM, Carreiro JE, Viola JH, Conte JA, Ridpath LC. Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on
Middle Ear Effusion Following Acute Otitis Media in Young Children: A Pilot Study. J Am Osteopath
Assoc. 2014;114(6):436-447.
Steele KM, Viola J, Burns E, Carreiro JE. Brief report of a clinical trial on the duration of middle ear
effusion in young children using a standardized osteopathic manipulative medicine protocol. J Am
Osteopath Assoc. 2010;110(5):278–284.
Sunku B, Marino RV, Sockolow R. A primary care approach to pediatric gastroesophageal reflux. J Am
Osteopath Assoc. 2000;100(12 Suppl Pt 2):S11-5.
Swender DA, Thompson G, Schneider K, McCoy K, Patel A. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for
Inpatients With Pulmonary Exacerbations of Cystic Fibrosis: Effects on Spirometry Findings and Patient
Assessments of Breathing, Anxiety, and Pain. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2014;114(6):450-458.
Tarsuslu T, Bol H, Simşek IE, Toylan IE, Cam S. The effects of osteopathic treatment on constipation in
children with cerebral palsy: a pilot study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009;32(8):648-53.
Todd A, Carroll M, Robinson A, Mitchell E. Adverse Events Due to Chiropractic and Other Manual
Therapies for Infants and Children: A Review of the Literature. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014.
Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.09.008. Accessed April 20, 2015.
Upledger JE. The relationship of craniosacral examination findings in grade school children with
developmental problems. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1978; 77:760-776.
Vandenplas Y, Denayer E, Vandenbossche T, Vermet L, Hauser B, Deschepper J, Engelen A. Osteopathy
may decrease obstructive apnea in infants: a pilot study. Osteopath Med Prim Care. 2008;2:8.
Wahl RA, Aldous MB, Worden KA, Grant KL. Echinacea purpurea and osteopathic manipulative
treatment in children with recurrent otitis media: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Complement
Altern Med. 2008;8(56):56.
Wiberg JM, Nordsteen J, Nilsson N. The short-term effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of
infantile colic: a randomized controlled clinical trial with a blinded observer. J Manipulative Physiol Ther.
1999;22(8):517-22.
Woollacott MH, Burtner P, Jensen J, et al. Development of postural responses during standing in
healthy children and children with spastic diplegia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 1998; 22:583-589.
Wyatt K, Edwards V, Franck L, et al. Cranial osteopathy for children with cerebral palsy: a randomised
controlled trial. Arch Dis Child. 2011;96(6):505–512.
Created: 11/15/13
Revised: 2/17/14, 4/22/15
Contributors*: Erik Langenau, DO, MS; Sarah Corcoran, OMSII
*Special thanks to not only those who provided information regarding specific research citations, but
also to these contributors who performed a comprehensive literature review of peer-reviewed
research related to the use of OMT in Pediatrics